Automatic drain apparatus for reservoirs



Dec.' 3, 1924. 1,520,124 A. GOTTSCHALK AUTO-MATIC DRAIN APPARATUS; FOR RESERVOIRS 7 Filed Oct: 29, 1921 Patented ec. 23, 1924:,

ALBERT GOTTSCHALK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed October 29, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT Go'r'rsoHALK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Drain Apparatus for Reservoirs, of which improvement the following is a specification.,

This invention relates to means for automatically draining off the water accumulating in air reservoirs, and particularly the main reservoirs of air brake systems on railway cars.

It is well known that the air pump of an air brake system draws in with the air which is being compressed, considerable moisture which condenses or collects in the reservoirs, and particularly in the main reservoirs of the system. This accumula tion of water is objectionable since it is liable to be carried over into parts of the system where it may interfere with the proper operation of the valve mechanisms,

' particularly in cold weather when it may freeze and cause considerable trouble. It is therefore the practice to drain out the water from the airreservoirs periodically by opening a drain cock on the reservoir. This is very unsatisfactory, however, since it may be neglected with serious results, and even when properly attended to care must be taken not to discharge a considerable amount of water at such a point as'to beobjectionable or injurious. This applies particularly to rapid transit service in cities, such as subway and elevated railroad service, where it is the practice for the employee to carry a large can or bucket to receive the water discharged from the drain cocks.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for automatically draining the reservoirs intermittently and often enough to prevent the accumulation of a large quantity of water so that the amount of discharge at each instance being small, will be unobjectionable; and with this object in view, my invention comprises a drain cock or valve mechanism controlled automatically by some apparatus or device that is periodically operated upon the car, such as the air brake or door operating mechanism, whereby at each operation of said device the drain will be opened momentarily Serial No. 511,248.

or for a very short period and then promptly closed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of drain apparatus embodying my improvement, the valve mechanism being shown in section; Figure 2, a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification; and, Fig. 3, a similar view, showing a further modification.

According to my improvement the operation of the drain valve mechanism is controlled automatically by the operation of any device upon the car which is put into action intermittently or at certain intervals, such as the air brake apparatus or the door operating device, and while the drain valve mechanism may assume various forms, I

have shown in Fig. 1, a valve casing 3, hav,

ing a chamber 4, containing a slide valve 5, actuated by a stem 6, and piston 7. Another piston chamber 8, contains piston 9, of larger diameter and having a stem 10, bearing against the piston 7; In the seat of the slide valve are located the port 12,

communicating by drainage pipe 15 with the reservoir 16, and outlet drain port 13 discharging to the atmosphere, while the slide valve is provided with a cavity 14:, adapted to pass over and open communication between ports 12, and 13 during the movement of the valve. The valve chamber 4 may be supplied with fluid under pressure from the reservoir or other source, by a pipe 19, so that under normal conditions the pressure in the valve chamber acting on the piston 7 holds the piston seated at the end of the chamber with the valve closing the drainage port 12.

In order to operate the valve mechanism intermittently at each time that some other apparatus is operated periodically upon the car, I have indicated the pipe 11 as communicating with the fluid supply to a cylinder 18, which may be a brake cylinder of the air brake apparatus or an operating cylinder of a door mechanism or other device to which compressed air is supplied at certain times by any controlling means, such as the valve 17.

Then the air brake or other device on the car is operated by admitting air to the cylinder 18 it is also supplied by pipe 11 to the large piston 9, the effect of which is to overcome the pressure acting in the valve chamher 1 on the small piston 7, and move the slide valve to the other end oi its stroke. During this movement of the slide valve the cavity 14 opens communication from port 12, to port 13, momentarily or for a short period, then the drain port is closed by the complete travel of the valve. During the time that the drainage port is open, water which has accumulated in the reservoir, will be discharged to the atmosphere by the pressure in the reservoir but asthe port is only open for a moment only a small amount of water will be discharged at each movement of the slide valve so that it will not be objectionable. lVhen the brake or door mechanism is released the air escapes from the large piston 9, and the pressure of the valve chamber acting on piston 7 returns the slide valve to its normal position, during which movement the drain port is again opened and closed, thereby producing another spurt or discharge of accumulated water.

In this way at each operation of the brake or other apparatus, the drain valve is also automatically operated to discharge a small amount of accumulated water from the reservoirwithout wasting compressed air, and as the operations of the brake, or other apparatus, are quite frequent, the drain valve is actuated sufliciently often to keep the reservoir practically free from water.

While I have shown in Fig. 1, one design of improved drain valve mechanism operated by fluid pressure, it will be understood that, under my invention, the drain valve may also be operated mechanically by a moving part of the brake apparatus, door mechanism or other device and in Fig. 2, I have shown such a device, com prising a drain valve 3, having a rotary plug cock 5 with an arm 6 operated by a moving part, such as lever 20, which may be a part of the brake rigging, door mechanism or other device upon the car. The valve body contains the ports 12, and 13, with which the cavity 14, in the cock 5 cooperates in a manner similar to that of the corresponding ports in Fig. 1. When the lever 20 of the brake or other apparatus is operated the cock is turned through an arc sufiicient to first open and then close communication for the discharge of water from pipe 15 through ports 12 and 13 to the atmosphere. IV hen the brake or other apparatus is released the cock is returned to normal position by the action of a spring 21, and the discharge from the drain port is repeated, the port remaining open momentarily or for ashortinterval during each movement of the valve,

H According to the modification shown in 3, the construction is similar to that of Fig. 2, except that the drain valve, 5. is designed to move in one direction only, by the ratchet, 22, between the arm, 6, and the plug cock, 5 The arm, 6 with the pawl, is rotatably mounted relative to the plug cock 5, carrying the ratchet wheel, so that, as the arm, 6 is moved in the direction of the arrow by the operation of the brake apparatus, car door, or other device, the cock, 5 is turned through an are sufficient to carry the cavity, 14 over the ports, 12 and 13 to open and then close the drain outlet from pipe, 15. Then, upon release of the brake or other apparatus, the spring, 21,

returns the arm, 6, to normal release posi- 0 tion, but does not move the cock, 5 as the pawl simply slides backward over the teeth of the ratchet, 22, without disturbing the position of the cock, 5

In this construction, the cock, 5 is provided with a plurality of cavities, 14 properly spaced apart so that each positive movement of the arm, 6*, by the car apparatus carries one of said cavities, 14, over the drain ports to momentarily open and then close the same. In this modification, it will be observed, there is but a single discharge from the drain ports at each operation of the car apparatus, consequently any loss of air from the reservoir during the release movement of the apparatus is avoided. Itwill be apparent that any suitable means controlled by the car brake or other apparatus, may be employed for operating the drain cock.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drain apparatus for car reservoirs, the combination of a drain valve for controlling the discharge of Water from the reservoir, said valve having a continuous movement for first opening and then closing the discharge and controlled by an intermittently operated device upon the car.

2. In a drain apparatus for car reservoirs, the combination of a drain valve for controlling the discharge of water from the reservoir, an intermittently operated fluid pressure device upon the car, and fluid pressure actuated means governed by the action of said device for operating said valve.

3. A reservoir drain valve, comprising a casing having a discharge passage, a valve controlling said passage, a piston subject to fluid pressure for holding the valve in normal closed position, and a larger piston for moving said valve.

1. A reservoir drain valve device, comprising a casing having a discharge passage, a normally closed valve controlling said'passage, and a piston for operating said valve.

5. A reservoir drain valve device, comprising a casing haing a discharge passage. a normally closed valve controlling said pas law sage, means for moving said valve and vice for moving said valve, and means for means for returning said valve to its norreturning said valve to its normal closed mal closed position. position. 10 6. A reservoir drain valve device, com- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 prising a casing having a discharge pasmy hand.

sage, a normally closed valve controlling said passage, an intermittently operated de- ALBERT GOTTSCHALK. 

